“English” language resources
Chalice lighting
As we light the chalice,
We see the flame rise up,
held in the bowl of the chalice.
Just so our spirits yearn for the Divine
Held in the circle of community.
Chalice lighting
The flame of the chalice consumes the candle
The flame of life consumes time
The flame of the spirit feeds on love,
Love that renews itself for ever.
May we give ourselves generously to love,
And open our hearts to receive it.
Chalice lighting
The flame rises from the chalice
as prayer proceeds from the heart.
The flame spends itself in giving light
But the heart is never spent in prayer.
May our hearts be inflamed with love
for all that is.
Chalice lighting
The chalice is the fullness of life’s experiences
And the emptiness of innocent openness to wonder
As we light the chalice flame
Let us explore the empire of the senses,
Let us celebrate experience and experiment:
the twin expressions of freedom, reason and tolerance.
Chalice lighting
We gather here within these walls
Hallowed by the community
that has gathered here over the centuries.
Countless hands have tended the flame of fellowship
and countless more will keep the light burning. As we light the chalice flame today
Let us not hide our light under a bushel
but be a beacon of hope
Chalice lighting
As we light this transitory flame
May a perpetual flame burn in our hearts
As we lift up this earthen chalice
May our hearts be filled with living waters
Closing blessing
May our inner life be nourished by our community.
And may our community be strengthened
by each person’s unique gifts.
May we honour the diversity of our spiritual journeys,
And help each other on the path.
Amen.
Closing blessing
Whatever is sacred to you, may it be a blessing to you.
May you be able to hold it lightly, like a bird in the hand,
So that it will always return to you when you let it go.
Whatever is sacred to you, may it be a blessing to you.